Peeking Inside (Part 4)

Hi, Little Champ.

How's life inside? Tremendously great I guess.

On December 6, 2014 we saw you again. Honestly, that was the most anxious moment among another visits since I would find out whether your position had been on the right one or otherwise, whether our "senam sujud" succeeded or fail.

After waiting the obgyn for about 4 hours, we were called and got inside. I was asked to directly lie down on the bed. The nurse put gel all over my belly and the obgyn started operating the device upon it. And she said "The baby has been already in a good position." I was beaming with joy when I heard her explanation. 

"Yeaaaay....you're such a great baby, Little Champ. Thank you for listening to me and for our effort together."

She advised me to continue performing "senam sujud" for about 5 minutes only just to keep you on the right position. She also described how great you're inside and so are my amniotic fluid, placenta etc. You turned 31 weeks 6 days and your BPD had reached 7.92 cm with AC 26.2 cm, weighing  1666 gram.

 

Hi...Champ :)

We're gonna see you again on December 20, 2014. Stay healthy and strong, Champ. Amin mela lle. :)

Peeking Inside (Part 3)

It’s been ages not to write you, Champ. 

Now, you’ve been staying in my tummy for 30 weeks 7 days. Day by day, week by week, you grow tremendously. You keep making much progress. I remember your first kick was on September 23, 2014 at 04.30 p.m. When I was watching afternoon TV show, I felt gentle kick inside and spotted a tiny protruding tummy for seconds. I was so stunned that my jaw dropped. It was the most breathtaking moment for me. I didn’t keep the joy for myself. I texted your father, telling him that you just kicked me. He was so excited too. He said he can’t wait to go home and felt your kick.

Here's the ultrasound result when you were 20 weeks old. Your Biparietal Diameter (BPD) measures about 4.75 cm and Abdominal Circumferential reaches 14.5 cm. You weigh 444 gram at the week. Hey, you're getting bigger, buddy. No wonder, you kept fluttering and flipping around. And this week had been the most excited one for us since for the first time we know the baby's sex. We're thrilled. We're happy. I can't wait to share with another family members about it, but your father wanted to keep it as a secret. He said, "Let's give them surprise. Don't tell them. Let them guess." And I listened to him. :)

Our 20-week-old little champ

Feeling your gentle movement is more than happiness. It's a gift for a woman. I can't stop thanking Allah for the abundant blessing.


Next visit was on October 11, 2014. We always  felt excited with this monthly routine. We never missed it. Here you're when we peeked inside. Your BPD measures 5.84 cm with AC 19.1 cm. It means you've already weighed 636 gram. During the peeking, you moved around. You kicked. However, you can't do it freely due to the lack of amniotic fluid. The obgyn told me to drink more to give the baby more space. I felt bad. Guilty and regret struck me. I thought I didn't do the best for you, little champ. But we're so relieved when she summed up the conclusion saying that generally you're strong and healthy baby. Yeaaay. :)

23-week-old little champ

On November 8, 2014 we saw you again. This time, everything was perfect. Your position, bones, heartbeat  were great. You turned 28 week with BPD 7.19 cm and AC 23.6 cm, weighing 1205 gram. We're filled with excessive joy.Alhamdulillah.

Hey... 28-week-old champ :)

The next visit, November 22, 2014 made us worried since you're not in a supposed-to-be position. The obgyn said I should do "senam sujud" for fifteen minutes after shalat to get you back on the right position. However, the position gave us benefit because it enabled us to see your genital very very clearly hehehee. Generally, everything was so fine. Our little champ weighed 1434 gram, BPD 7.41 cm and AC 25.6 cm.

You turned 29 week, champ. :)

Now, I regularly do "senam sujud" 3-4 times a day. It is a bit stiff for the first time, but I can deal with it for the next one. During the "ritual" I keep talking to you to help me to get you back "on the right track". I believe you listen to me and we're gonna do such an awesome job. Ohhh. I wish I could give you hi-5.

Okay Champ, see you later. Be good, strong and healthy. Love you to the moon and back. :)

Peeking Inside (Part 2)

Hey, Pearl.

Finally we saw you. Yes, now your father was available to company me to see you. We were so happy we could cry. Lying on the bed, as usual the nurse smeared ultrasound gel all over my tummy, then the ob-gyn put the transducer upon it. I started seeing the picture, then I asked him, “Doc, tell me the progress.” He said, “Look! Your baby is doing so fine. The baby’s healthy and grows fabulously.” He enlarged the picture so I can see the baby clearly. Then I spotted long neat bones. I posed a question, “Is that spine?” “Yes, indeed,” he replied. Then he moved the cursor showing me another part of the baby. “These are legs, hands, and head. The baby grows well.”  Subhanallah. All I saw was jaw-dropping. The beautiful creature is growing inside my tummy.

Our beloved 16-week-1-day baby

Studying the picture, I wondered about the baby's position. It's totally different from the previous USG image.  "What are you doing, Pearl? Doing acrobatics in there? You look like doing "sujud" or something.  Hehehe.... Whatever your position is, I hope you're always healthy and strong. May Alloh protect you, Pearl. Anyway, the ob-gyn told me that we'll probably welcome you by February 2, 2015. Insya Allah."  Aaaaand you're gonna be my most precious birthday gift." Alhamdulillah :)

We'll peek at you again on September 16, 2014

Ayah and Ibu already love you. :)

Peeking Inside (Part 1)

Dear My Pearl,

You’ve been 3 months in my tummy. During that time, I keep worrying about you. No matter how light the cramp or pinch I feel inside my tummy, big worry hits me. Every minute and second, I pray to Allah SWT for your wellness and greatness. Sometimes, it calms me down. Sometimes, it’s never enough, I want to do something more. I always want to peek inside my womb, wondering whether you’re okay or need something. All I can do is staring at your 11-week-ultrasonography photo on my desk, hugging it on my chest and saying “Sehat ya, Nak. Can’t wait to see you. :) ”. 

Our beloved 11-week- baby

Your father keeps telling me that you're doing so fine down there. He'll whisper great wishes on my tummy, hoping that you've already been able to hear. He's been a great man for us.

Pearl, I guess we’ll always be worried for you for the rest of our life. We can only try our best and pray. Allah SWT will protect and take care of you better than us. No doubt.

Pearl, Ayah and Ibu already love you.  :)

What a catastrophe !!!! - (Ati Ampela Session)

Yesterday, June 3, 2014 will be the most wittily-catastrophic day. We'll never forget that day.


As usual, at 05.00 p.m, I took a brisk walk to the kitchen. I began preparing every stuff for cooking. I unloaded some veggies and spices from the refrigerator. Corn + spinach soup would be our dinner menu. For side dish, my husband wanted ati ampela bumbu kecap. For your information, I never cook the ati ampela thing. So I counted on the tutorial from the internet.

As for the first menu, corn + spinach soup, I found myself easy to cook it. In less than a half hour, I finished cooking and the soup was ready to be served. The next one was ati ampela bumbu kecap. I put my phone next to the dispenser. I browsed the recipe and followed the instruction. The first thing stated in the recipe was boiling the ati ampela. I put them into the boiling water soon after washing and casting away the unnecessary mucus. While waiting for them to be soft and edible, I followed the next instruction which was mashing the spices; onion, garlic, ginger, coriander and salt.

In the middle of mashing, my husband came home. He took a break for awhile then joined me in the kitchen. He landed a gentle kiss on my cheek and uttered "Woooow....smell soo yummy." What can I do for you?" I replied "Well, you can check the softness of the ati ampela."  He was so enthusiastic helping me since he really expected the dish. After the ati ampela was soft, we mixed them with the sauteed spices, lemongrass, salam leaves, ketchup and  water. We're sooo happy because we made a great teamwork and great taste of ati ampela bumbu kecap. He tasted the flavor and said "Okay, it's great." I turned off the stove. We smiled. We're ready to have dinner.

However, something unimaginable thing happened. Before I put the dish into the bowl, he told me that the ampela must be cut into several pieces because it looked too big. Then he placed the ampela on the cutting board and cut them . Everything was fine until he posed a question "Cha, what's this?". He pointed to the chunk of ampela containing grainy texture. I pinched a bit the texture and put it into my mouth. And it tasted sooo weird and smelled not so good. I stopped for a awhile and O My Goddddd...."It's pup ayam."  I screamed.

I threw up in front of him and he was shocked toopup ayam, I called our helper at Bandung, asking whether I missed something during the washing process. And Yes!!! I should've cleaned the ampela since it coexisted with that waste part.
. To make sure it's

Well, I LITERALLY ATE PUP AYAM , HE LITERALLY TASTED THE FLAVOR OF AMPELA CONTAINING PUP AYAM AND SAID IT'S GREAT.

Ewwwwww......Yuckkkkky!!!!! We vomited several times but can't help laughing over and over again. Yesterday was the most stupid wittily catastrophic day in our life. In the end we just sat on sofa and pondered on what recently happened. And we laughed again. :D




P.S :

1. For everyone who uploaded the tutorial of cooking ati ampela, please remind the reader to cast away the waste first. Your reader could be a very very very amateur cook.  
2. Pick up a kind husband so you'll be safe when your cooking  ends in terrible failure.

Once In a Lifetime Party

After wedding ceremony ended, we headed to Bumi Samami, our wedding reception's venue. It is located at Jl. Terusan Cigadung 15, Tubagus Ismail Dago, Bandung. It took us about fifteen minutes to reach there. Inside the car, we watched videos made by me. The videos were the compilation of our photos from time to time. We had our own video. We watched them while holding hand. It was like magic. We just didn't believe that we married to each other. But above all, we felt so great.

Finally, we were almost there. Our wedding car took left-turn and had downhill road. Just taking another left-turn, Bumi Samami was in front of us. I saw many people had already been there. We also spotted "janur" stood by the stone wall. Our name were written on stereo-foam hang to the "janur". Our car was parked in front of make-up room.

We entered the room and Mbak Ambar and her team greeted  and congratulated us. Our family was also there, sitting on a sofa. The "tengil" Farrell seemed to act differently. He walked here and there with his signature walk style. Very cute and adorable. Before a touch-up, I begged permission to pee. Something unusual happened. I was accompanied by Teh Ai, Mbak Ambar's assistant, to the bathroom. How strange it felt. She helped me hold the gown and gave me the tissue. Most amazingly, she was next to me when I peed. It was just epic.

Afterwards, my husband and I had a touch-up. It took a little time for Mbak Ambar to remake-up my husband since she only applied very sheer face powder onto him. As for me, she changed my hijab do helped by Dea, refined my make-up and handed me a bouquet of white rose. Our big family had the same treatment. They took refinement make-up done by her team. After everything was done, we were ready for the reception.

We got into the car and took only three minutes to get the entrance of venue. We're planned to ride a wedding vehicle from the entrance to the bridal dais. The vehicle was designed and made by him. He called the vehicle hybrid bike. Soon we got the entrance, the bike was already there. It was so cute. Daf Decoration Team decorated the bike with big ribbons and flowers attached to the front and rear bike. I was so happy I could cry.

Hybrid bike by M.S. Syahied Fauzy

To my amazement, along the way, two lines of beautiful ladies and handsome gents were ready to welcome us. The cuties you saw in the picture were assigned to fly the balloons and blow the bubbles when we passed the way. They were so adorable. Bumi Samami turned into wonderful land with those little angels. 

Beautiful peeps

 

We're (not really) ready to ride.

Soon after the MC finished reading the philosophy of hybrid bike. We were guided to have some preparation. Honestly, nervousness hit us when we were about to ride the bike. It was because we didn't have rehearsal at all. He wasn't even sure whether this was gonna end nicely or otherwise. But everything must be faced. We rode slowly while "Cintaku" song was being played melodiously by Alto Music.

Okay,...we're riding.

The cuties did their job awesomely. The balloons flew.

Oh it was superb.

Praise be to Allah SWT, everything ran smoothly. Now, our next agenda was entering the core venue. But before that, my husband cut the ribbon as the symbol of entering new house, new life. We cheered up for it.

Cutting the ribbon symbolizing entering new life

Yeaaaaay :)

Now, we were walking down the dock-like path heading to the bridal dais. Behind us, were our big family and guests.

Wave to the camera

On our bridal dais

Sitting on the bridal dais was the most amazing once in a lifetime experience. We're treated as a King and Queen. We were flooded by congratulation words, regards coming from friends, family and guests. We were so super duper excited.

On our  wedding day, we also took a courage to sing. Even though we didn't proclaim we had golden voice, we tried to entertain all guests. We sang "Tetaplah di Hatiku" by Bunga Citra Lestari featuring Christian Bautista.

"Tetaplaaaaaa...h"

"Di haatikuuuuu...."

Afterwards, we mingled with the guests and gave chocolates to them. It was so interesting moment. We had a chance to approach them, said thank for coming and gave them a little gift.

Here it is, cuty...

Take it Mas Alif, ...

Finally, the wedding reception was over. The guests and some of the family went home. The catering team had already neaten all the tables and vendors. Mas Yanto, a tent guy,  had been ready to take off the tents. As for us, we still had our last photo session with Empat Pijar's team. During the session, rain poured heavily. Everyone took a shelter but us since we had photo shot under the VIP tent.

After finishing the last capture, we got confused how to get to the villa. Our core family had left us. We had no umbrella. But Empat Pijar's guy were so resourceful and creative . He pulled out the super big umbrella from the round table in the middle of venue. They offered us to take us to the villa. Aaaahhh...what a funny ending. :D

Big thanks to you guys :D

The biggest umbrella we've ever had

And eventually, my husband and I go the most sincerest and profound thanks to all of you who contribute to our wedding ceremony and reception. We know we never be able to pay you back. But we're pretty sure Allah SWT has prepared the best reward for you all.

"From This Moment...... Life Has Begun."

Saturday, December 14, 2013 is the most sacred day for us. In this day, we tied the knot. We promised each other to spend the rest of our life together, in ups and downs, in health and sickness, in sorrow and happiness. 

Donning a broken white gown with stunning hijab do, I walked through the mimbar flanked by The Fia, one of my husband’s nieces. From the hijab hole, I saw my husband’s face down. He wore grey suit with black and silver tie; very handsome. I thought he was as nervous as I was. I also spotted our parents and relatives sitting very nicely around ijab-kabul table. However, I had no time to see their face one by one. I kept walking, heading the place next to him. A few cushions had been prepared for us. I sat on it. I heard he was whispering “Are you ready?”. I didn’t answer his question maybe because I was too busy placing my floor-length gown properly. 

The MC opened the wedding ceremony. It’s begun with Basmallah and reading Alqur’an. Afterwards, she asked the bride to pronounce “Surat Permohonan Nikah”. I was hit by nervousness. My hands trembled but I tried to reach the microphone placed in front of me. I began reading the statement by saying Basmallah. I started crying. I was so sad. I just didn’t realize how time flew. I was about to be a wife while I was still feeling like Daddy’s little girl. I still saw myself playing wooden sword with my nephew, ended with my knee injury and Dad got mad. I kept watching myself crying crazily on “palupuh” until I peed on my pants and Mom got angry. And now, Dad was in front of me, ready to let me go, swimming into the deep sea of marriage. It was just….too sad. I will have a new phase, the next episodes of life. I mumbled the statement which is written in Sundanese. Afterwards, my Dad replied my request. His voice trembled, trying to speak while dropping tears. 

The next agenda is ijab-kabul. This is the most essential one above all. This is the moment when my Dad willingly gave me to a man whom I spent my life with. There was a spectacular thing during ijab-kabul. Soon after my Dad finished saying the statement, my husband to be replied it in such a speedy utterance. Very fast. I was both amazed and wanted to laugh. But I tried to conceal it. :D 

Alhamdulillah the witnesses said that the ijab Kabul was shah. We’re officially husband and wife since then. We still can’t believe it. It was a blessed sacred day ever.  

Make Up & Gown : Ambar Rias Sip

"Are you ready, Cha?" he whispered.

When Dad officially released me

"From this moment.....life has begun."

The most awkward moment. Sorry for the uncontrolled expression

Call us husband and wife :)

And the Princess found her charming Prince :)